System and Method for Dynamic Data Management in a Wireless Network

1. A node configured for wireless communication with an access point according to a differentiated services control parameter, the node comprising: a controller configured to provide individualized control of the differentiated services control parameter setting corresponding to the node, the controller further configured to receive data; assign a priority level to the data; adjust the differentiated services control parameter setting for the node based on the priority level; perform a weighted sum calculation in order to assign the priority level to the data; and determine a classification for the data, and to perform the weighted sum calculation based on the classification.

2. The node of claim 1 wherein the node is configured for wireless communication with the access point according to IEEE 802.11e protocol.

3. The node of claim 2 , wherein the differentiated services control parameter is a Differentiated Services Code Point.

4. The node of claim 1 , wherein the node is a patient monitoring device, and wherein the data is physiologic data acquired by the patient monitoring device.

5. A network comprising: an access point; and nodes configured for wireless communication with the access point according to a differentiated services control parameter; wherein each of the nodes includes a controller configured to provide individualized control of the differentiated services control parameter setting corresponding to the node, the controller further configured to: receive data; assign a priority level to the data; adjust the differentiated services control parameter setting for the node based on the priority level; and determine a classification for the data, and to perform a weighted sum calculation based on the classification in order to assign the priority level to the data.

6. The network of claim 5 , wherein the weighted sum calculation is one of a linear calculation, a non-linear calculation and a geometric calculation.

7. The network of claim 5 wherein the nodes are configured for wireless communication with the access point according to IEEE 802.11e protocol.

8. The network of claim 7 , wherein the differentiated services control parameter is a Differentiated Services Code Point.

9. The network of claim 5 , wherein one of the nodes is a patient monitoring device, and wherein the data is physiologic data acquired by the patient monitoring device.

10. The network of claim 9 , wherein the physiologic data is one of alarm data, waveform data and vital sign data.

11. The network of claim 10 , wherein the vital sign data is one of electrocardiogram data, blood pressure data, temperature data, blood gas measurement data, and airway gas measurement data.

12. The network of claim 11 , wherein the access point is configured to transmit physiologic data received from the nodes to a central monitoring station, and wherein the central monitoring station is configured to display the physiologic data.

13. A method comprising: receiving data, wherein the data is acquired by a node configured for wireless communication with an access point according to a differentiated services control parameter; assigning a priority level to the data, wherein the priority level is assigned by a controller configured to provide individualized control of the differentiated services control parameter setting corresponding to the node; adjusting the differentiated services control parameter setting for the node based on the priority level; determining a classification for the data based by comparing the data to a threshold value; and performing a weighted sum calculation based on the classification in order to assign the priority level to the data.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the node is configured for wireless communication with the access point according to IEEE 802.11e protocol, and wherein adjusting the differentiated services control parameter includes adjusting a Differentiated Services Code Point.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the node is a patient monitoring device, and wherein acquiring data includes acquiring physiologic data.